Dinner Program

Indoor Air Quality and Mold: Legal Issues and Liability Concerns for Engineers and Related Industry Professional 

This talk will provide an overview of the increase in indoor air and mold concerns over the last several years and will focus on actual cases that have recently made their way through the courts, with a particular emphasis on legal disputes involving indoor mold contamination. Target defendants, legal theories and verdicts will be discussed to give the ASHRAE member a better understanding of the potential liabilities facing those who participate in HVAC design and construction. Defense strategies will also be outlined. A discussion of practical steps engineers can take to avoid liability will conclude the talk.

Christopher McDonald, Esquire
Division Managing Partner, Shook Hardy and Bacon, LLP

Christopher M. McDonald is a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., a law firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. He has been with the firm for fifteen years engaged in the practice of law focusing on toxic tort, environmental, regulatory and indoor air quality issues. He also focuses on advising clients relating to litigation avoidance and preparedness. Much of his work deals with complex scientific and technical issues. Chris also spends a significant amount of time working with junior lawyers on the firm’s Associates Committee, which he currently chairs.

Mr. McDonald has authored numerous articles and given numerous presentations on issues relating to liability for indoor air quality problems and mold contamination and steps to take to avoid liability for such problems. He has also presented on issues relating to information management and discovery in civil litigations as it relates to engineering practices.

Technical Session

Psychrometrics and Mold

Aaron Deutsch
Drymaxx Air Solutions

Aaron Deutsch is the owner of Drymaxx Air Solutions has 20 years of Humidity control experience and its products. He is one of the leading Southern California experts in psychrometrics.  Aaron has a chemical engineering degree from City College of New York and has worked for both Kathabar and Munters for a total of 9 years, worked  for a contractor and currently as a manufacturer’s representative. He currently represents a variety of humidification, dehumidification, energy recovery systems as well as other HVAC equipment. Aaron will start with a review on psychrometrics. He will also discuss the impact of Psychrometrics on the design of air conditioning equipment.